In another 24 hours, there will be a change of
power in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, as in many other states of the
federation. Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala of the Peoples Democratic Party,
who has been calling the shots from the Agodi Government House since May
29, 2007, will be handing over the office to Senator Abiola Ajimobi of
the Action Congress of Nigeria, having lost his re-election bid during
the April 26 governorship election in the state.
According to the programme of activities released by the chairman of the Government Transition Committee, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, the state Chief Judge, Justice Badejoko Adeniji, will be administering the oath of office on Ajimobi and his deputy, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo, at an elaborate programme fixed for the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium). The programme is billed to start at 10 am.
As expected, the leadership of the ACN in the state, and of course the camp of the governor-elect, are not sparing anything to make the event a colourful one. Already, a considerable number of party members in all the 33 local government areas in the state have purchased uniforms (popularly known as aso ebi) for the inauguration.
Invites have been sent to prominent leaders and citizens of the state, as well as party chiefs across the country to grace the occasion. Some prominent musicians have also been contracted to add glamour to the event, which is already the talk of the town.
At a recent news conference, Aremu, who is also the state Head of Service, explained that to ensure a hitch-free transition, his committee had constituted five sub-committees that were saddled with the responsibilities of handling various aspects of the programme such as venue/security/traffic control, swearing-in/hand-over notes, publicity/programme, march past/cultural display/medical as well as logistics/entertainment.
Despite the preparations put in place for this all-important event, there is a growing concern among stakeholders in the state over the possible breakdown of law and order before or during the programme. The fear is based on the fact that loyalists of political parties, who lost during the elections, may not be happy seeing the governorship seat slip from them, hence they may resort to violence.
This much was hinted by the state Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Femi Mapaderun, when he said on Thursday, “We have heard reports that some people are planning to cause mayhem in different parts of the country and even in Oyo State on Sunday when the President and our new governor shall be inaugurated.”
But not ready to take chances, Aremu said that his committee, in collaboration with the relevant agencies, had made an adequate provision for the security of lives and property before, during and after the inauguration. He added that to this end, his committee had held several meetings with the various security agencies with double assurances that no chance should be taken. He said that as much as the days ahead of the inauguration were loaded with several programmes and exciting moments, there was no cause for alarm.
Apparently allaying the people’s fear, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, warned troublemakers to steer clear of the venue of the inauguration. Bolanta told journalists on Tuesday that his command was battle-ready to ensure a hitch-free transition. He threatened that anybody found within or around the venues of the events with weapons such as cutlasses, sticks, broken bottles or guns would be charged with armed robbery.
“We will not allow anybody to disrupt the inauguration of the new governor and the peace of the state. We have enough personnel to checkmate any attempt to disrupt the inauguration ceremony,” the police boss said. He warned residents of the state to continue to operate within the ambit of the law before, during and after the inauguration, as his command would not fold its hands while people took the law into their hands.
Mapaderun, the NOA boss, urged the residents of the state to allow peace to reign. While appealing to the people to eschew violence, the NOA boss asked those who were aggrieved or felt hurt by the outcome of the just-concluded elections to always remember that violence never paid.
He said, “Oyo State is our own Jerusalem and we should pray and work for its peace. The time calls for celebration. The time calls for rejoicing. The time calls for merry-making. Sunday, May 29, should, for us in Oyo State, be a day of re-awakening and not a day of violence or destruction. Specifically, we want a peaceful Oyo State. We want a progressive Oyo State and together we can make that happen. Let us play our roles well and posterity will record and judge us appropriately.
The general belief in the state is that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers are willing tools in the hands of politicians, who may want to foment trouble. To this end, the court-reinstated chairman of the union in the state, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a. Tokyo), has also appealed to his members across the 33 local government areas of the state to remain peaceful before, during and after Ajimobi’s inauguration.
Akinsola urged NURTW members not to take the laws into their hands, warning that anybody caught fomenting trouble, especially at motor parks, should be ready to face the music. He alleged that the union’s leadership had uncovered plots by some disgruntled persons in the state to use some NURTW members to unleash violence in the state for their selfish reasons.
He said, “As the May 29 transition date is very much around the corner, it has come to our notice that some unscrupulous hoodlums are plotting to heat up the polity with a view to achieving their selfish motive at all costs. Beware of these devilish people and do not play into their waiting hands in your own interest.”
It is interesting to note that the various programmes earmarked for the inauguration have started with no form of unpleasant development so far. The activities commenced on May 22 with prayer sessions in all churches in the state for a peaceful transition. Similar prayer sessions were held in all mosques in the state on Friday (yesterday). The outgoing governor has also delivered his farewell speech to the people of the state.
In the address broadcast on the state radio and television stations, Alao-Akala said that as he bowed out of office, he nursed no grudge or ill-feelings against anyone.
He said, “As I step out of office, I have no regret or ill-feelings towards anyone. At the very beginning, I had a vision and today, I am deeply fulfilled that I have been able to translate my vision for Oyo State to reality.
“Afterall, leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. No matter the perception of our political opponents, deep down in their hearts, they will concur that I have led a purposeful administration. My legacy of performance and service to the good people of Oyo State is there for all to see.”
A send-off dinner was later held in his honour later in the day at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Agodi. The inauguration lecture will hold on Saturday (today) at the Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan. Immediately after the swearing-in on Sunday, the handing-over ceremony will hold at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office while a luncheon in honour of the new governor will hold at the Government House.
An inter-faith service will hold at the premises of the Governor’s Office on May 30; a Jumat Service on June 3 and a church thanksgiving service on June 5. Ajimobi is expected to decide the venues of the Jumat and church services later.
As the inauguration reaches its climax, the people of the state are just praying and hoping that it will be concluded without violence just like the concluded general elections in the state.
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
According to the programme of activities released by the chairman of the Government Transition Committee, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, the state Chief Judge, Justice Badejoko Adeniji, will be administering the oath of office on Ajimobi and his deputy, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo, at an elaborate programme fixed for the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium). The programme is billed to start at 10 am.
As expected, the leadership of the ACN in the state, and of course the camp of the governor-elect, are not sparing anything to make the event a colourful one. Already, a considerable number of party members in all the 33 local government areas in the state have purchased uniforms (popularly known as aso ebi) for the inauguration.
Invites have been sent to prominent leaders and citizens of the state, as well as party chiefs across the country to grace the occasion. Some prominent musicians have also been contracted to add glamour to the event, which is already the talk of the town.
At a recent news conference, Aremu, who is also the state Head of Service, explained that to ensure a hitch-free transition, his committee had constituted five sub-committees that were saddled with the responsibilities of handling various aspects of the programme such as venue/security/traffic control, swearing-in/hand-over notes, publicity/programme, march past/cultural display/medical as well as logistics/entertainment.
Despite the preparations put in place for this all-important event, there is a growing concern among stakeholders in the state over the possible breakdown of law and order before or during the programme. The fear is based on the fact that loyalists of political parties, who lost during the elections, may not be happy seeing the governorship seat slip from them, hence they may resort to violence.
This much was hinted by the state Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Femi Mapaderun, when he said on Thursday, “We have heard reports that some people are planning to cause mayhem in different parts of the country and even in Oyo State on Sunday when the President and our new governor shall be inaugurated.”
But not ready to take chances, Aremu said that his committee, in collaboration with the relevant agencies, had made an adequate provision for the security of lives and property before, during and after the inauguration. He added that to this end, his committee had held several meetings with the various security agencies with double assurances that no chance should be taken. He said that as much as the days ahead of the inauguration were loaded with several programmes and exciting moments, there was no cause for alarm.
Apparently allaying the people’s fear, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, warned troublemakers to steer clear of the venue of the inauguration. Bolanta told journalists on Tuesday that his command was battle-ready to ensure a hitch-free transition. He threatened that anybody found within or around the venues of the events with weapons such as cutlasses, sticks, broken bottles or guns would be charged with armed robbery.
“We will not allow anybody to disrupt the inauguration of the new governor and the peace of the state. We have enough personnel to checkmate any attempt to disrupt the inauguration ceremony,” the police boss said. He warned residents of the state to continue to operate within the ambit of the law before, during and after the inauguration, as his command would not fold its hands while people took the law into their hands.
Mapaderun, the NOA boss, urged the residents of the state to allow peace to reign. While appealing to the people to eschew violence, the NOA boss asked those who were aggrieved or felt hurt by the outcome of the just-concluded elections to always remember that violence never paid.
He said, “Oyo State is our own Jerusalem and we should pray and work for its peace. The time calls for celebration. The time calls for rejoicing. The time calls for merry-making. Sunday, May 29, should, for us in Oyo State, be a day of re-awakening and not a day of violence or destruction. Specifically, we want a peaceful Oyo State. We want a progressive Oyo State and together we can make that happen. Let us play our roles well and posterity will record and judge us appropriately.
The general belief in the state is that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers are willing tools in the hands of politicians, who may want to foment trouble. To this end, the court-reinstated chairman of the union in the state, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a. Tokyo), has also appealed to his members across the 33 local government areas of the state to remain peaceful before, during and after Ajimobi’s inauguration.
Akinsola urged NURTW members not to take the laws into their hands, warning that anybody caught fomenting trouble, especially at motor parks, should be ready to face the music. He alleged that the union’s leadership had uncovered plots by some disgruntled persons in the state to use some NURTW members to unleash violence in the state for their selfish reasons.
He said, “As the May 29 transition date is very much around the corner, it has come to our notice that some unscrupulous hoodlums are plotting to heat up the polity with a view to achieving their selfish motive at all costs. Beware of these devilish people and do not play into their waiting hands in your own interest.”
It is interesting to note that the various programmes earmarked for the inauguration have started with no form of unpleasant development so far. The activities commenced on May 22 with prayer sessions in all churches in the state for a peaceful transition. Similar prayer sessions were held in all mosques in the state on Friday (yesterday). The outgoing governor has also delivered his farewell speech to the people of the state.
In the address broadcast on the state radio and television stations, Alao-Akala said that as he bowed out of office, he nursed no grudge or ill-feelings against anyone.
He said, “As I step out of office, I have no regret or ill-feelings towards anyone. At the very beginning, I had a vision and today, I am deeply fulfilled that I have been able to translate my vision for Oyo State to reality.
“Afterall, leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. No matter the perception of our political opponents, deep down in their hearts, they will concur that I have led a purposeful administration. My legacy of performance and service to the good people of Oyo State is there for all to see.”
A send-off dinner was later held in his honour later in the day at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Agodi. The inauguration lecture will hold on Saturday (today) at the Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan. Immediately after the swearing-in on Sunday, the handing-over ceremony will hold at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office while a luncheon in honour of the new governor will hold at the Government House.
An inter-faith service will hold at the premises of the Governor’s Office on May 30; a Jumat Service on June 3 and a church thanksgiving service on June 5. Ajimobi is expected to decide the venues of the Jumat and church services later.
As the inauguration reaches its climax, the people of the state are just praying and hoping that it will be concluded without violence just like the concluded general elections in the state.
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment